Extension-table.



No. 851,859. PATENTED APR. 30, 190?. M. J. BOWMAN.

EXTENSION TABLE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.22.1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1n: mmms :15:25 cm, wAsmusmN, n. c.

No. 851,859. PATENTED'APR. so, 1907.

' M. J. BOWMAN.

EXTENSION TABLE.

7 APPLICATION FILED AUG. 22. 190a.

2 SHEETS-SHEET g.

Fig.5

5 Lb a MOSES J. BOWMAN, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO.

EXTENSION-TABLE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed August 22, 1906. Serial No. 331,577.

To all whom 1 it may concern:

Be it known that I, MosEs J. BOWMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at East Cleveland, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of ()hio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Extension-Tables, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

My invention relates to extension tables and more particularly to devices of this kind that are provided with a central support or pedestal.

The object of the invention is to construct a table of this character that shall permit of a maximum extension of the same without any weakening of the supports for the intermediate leaves; that shall dispense with the necessity for metallic supports for the rails; that shall provide for such maximum extension and such solid intermediate support with a minimum number of parts.

Generally speaking, the invention may be defined as consisting of the elements embodied in the claims hereto annexed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a sectional view of a table constructed in accordance with my invention, said view being taken on the line 1-1 of Fig. 2, the central'support or pedestal being shown in elevation; Fig. 2 represents a sectional view of the table taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 represents a perspective view showing the table extended ready to receive the inter mediate leaves; and Fig. 4 represents a detail showing the means for arresting the move ment of the sliding rails.

Describing the parts by reference numerals, 1 represents the central support or pedestal of the table. The top of this pedestal is provided with a horizontal siuface to which are attached the cross arms 2 2. These arms intersect at the center of the pedestal, being suitably recessed or scarfed on the top and bottom respectively to enable them to be fitted together and keep their upper surfaces on the same level, as will appear from Figs. 1 and 3. The arms 22 diverge outwardly on opposite sides of the center and have secured thereto, near their outer portions, the fixed rails or runners 3'3, one on each side of the pedestal. Each of the fixed rails or runners 3 is provided on opposite sides thereof with a dovetail bead or rib 4 table.

adapted to fit in a corresponding rabbet or recess in a sliding rail.

5 denotes an outer and 6 an inner sliding rail, the former oiwhich is secured, as by screws, to one of the movable sections or leaves 7 of the table and the latter tothe other movable section or end leaf 7 of said One of these sections, as section 7, is preferably provided with both of the outer rails 5 and the other with both of the inner rails 6, located at each side of the pedestal, the rails being of a length to just fit within the circular skirt 8 of the table. The upper surfaces of the arms 2 are in the same horizontal plane and the upper surfaces of rails 3, 5 and 6 are in the same horizontal plane, for a purpose to be hereinafter described.

The outer portions of the arms 2 are secured to the rail 3, as by screws, and said arms may be extended sufficiently to form a support for the bottoms of the rails 5, as well as the rails 6. Each of the rails 5 is provided with a stop 9 adapted to engage the end portion of the cross arm 2 which is adjacent the movable section to which said rail is attached, and each rail 6 is provided with a similar stop 10 arranged to engage the arm 2 adjacent the movable section to which said rails are respectively attached. A convenient manner of forming these stops is to fit them to the lower surfaces of the respective rails and to provide slots 9 and 1O in the arms 2 over which the free ends of these rails slide when the table is in closed or nearly closed position. Then the table is extended, these steps will engage the arms 2 adjacent the particular table section to which the rails are attached. By this construction, the free ends of the rails are prevented from riding over or beyond the cross-arms adjacent their respective movable sections or end leaves, and said inner ends are firmly sup ported by the arms 2. At the same time, owing to the fact that the fixed rails or runners 3 are firmly supported on the arms 2-2, the table may be extended so that the free ends of the rails 5 and 6 slip beyond each other a considerable distance without weakening the supporting means for the intermediate leaves. Thus, in Figs. 3 and 4 a considerable space is shown between the ends of the rails 5 and 6. This space is bridged by the fixed rail or runner 3, which is firmly supported on the diverging ends of the arms 2.

intermediate leaves are applied, and saidleaves will be firmly supported even when the table is extended its maximumdistance with the free ends of the rails 5 and 6 considerably separated.

I am aware of the fact that it has been proposed to support a fixed rail or runner by a single cross piece extending across the top of the pedestal, but in this construction, the free ends of the sliding rails are unsupported except by the tongue-and-groove engagement with the fixed rail, with the result that these parts soon break. By my construction, however, the fixed rail or runner is firmly supported, and the same means which supports this fixed'rail or runner also supports the free ends of the sliding rails, with the result that, with a minimum number of rails, a long extension or draw can be given to my table without impairing the solidity of the central portion thereof. Furthermore, I am enabled to make the tongue and groove engagement between the rails entirely ofv wood, without material danger of breaking or injuring the same, as the manner of supporting said rails releases them from any strain which will tend to break such engagement. I. am further aware of the fact that it has been-proposedto support the rails by arms extending upwardly from opposite sides of a pedestal. But in this construction, care must be taken not to separate the free ends of the sliding rails as, owing to the manner of supporting the same, such separation would leave the free ends unsupported, thus limiting the amount of extension of the table. Furthermore, by locating the lower ends of the supporting arms considerably below the table body, said arms interfere with the comfort of persons who may be occupying the table. By my construction, however, I am enabled to 1 obtain, with few and simply-constructed parts, a maximum extension without weakening the central portion of the table, and to accomplish these results in a very simple and inexpensive construction.

I claim:

1. In an extension table, the combination of'a central support or pedestal, a pair of arms supported on top of said support or ped estal and intersecting each other at the center of the support or pedestal, a fixed rail'or rtmner at each side of said pedestal or support and supported adjacent the outer extremities of the arms, a pair of oppositely movable table sections or end leaves, a sliding rail fixed to each section or end leaf at each side of'the pedestal or support and slidably engaging the fixed rail or runner, substantially as specified.

2. In an extension table, the combination of a pair of'cross arms connected at their intersection, supporting means for said arms, a pair of fixed parallel rails or runners supported by said-arms on" opposite sides of the table, and a pair of oppositely movable table sections, each having rails slidably engaging the fixed rails or runners, substantially as to each of said sections on opposite sides of the pedestal or support and slidably engag ing the fixed rail or runner, and stopsfor limiting the movement of said sections, substantially as specified.

4:. In an extension table, the combination of a pedestal, a pair of. cross arms secured to the top of said pedestal, said armsdiverging outwardly on opposite sides of said. pedestal, a fixed rail or runner secured to the outer portions of the diverging arms on each side of the pedestal, a pair of opposite-movable table sections or end leaves, apair of rails fixed to each section at each side thereof and engaging respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the fixed rail or runner and in sliding engagement therewith, the cross arms being extended to form a support for both the inner and outer sliding rails, substantially as specified.

5. In an extension-table, the combination of a pedestal, a pair of. arms secured to the top of said pedestal, said arms divergingoutwardly on opposite sides of said pedestal and, having, their up er surfaces in the same hori-- zontal plane, a fixed rail or runner secured to the outer portions ofthe diverging ar-mson each side of the pedestal, a pair of oppositely movable table sections or end leaves, a pair of rails fixed to each section, at each side thereof and engaging respectively the inner and outer surfaces of the fixed rail and in sliding engagement therewith, the cross arms being extended to .form a support for both the inner and outer slidingrails, and stops arranged to prevent the inner ends of the sliding rails from being withdrawn from the. ends of the cross arms adjacent the movable section to which said rails are secured.

6. In an extension table, the combination of a pedestal, of a pair of arms supported on.

top of said pedestal and diverging outwardly on opposite sides thereof and having their upper surfaces in the same horizontal plane, a fixed rail or runner secured to the outer portions of the diverging arms on each side of the pedestal, a pair. of oppositelyemovable table sections, a pair of sliding rails secured to one of said sections and engaging the outer surfaces of the fixed rails, a pair of sliding rails secured to the other section and slidably engaging the inner surfaces of the fixed rails, said fixed and movable sliding rails being of the same vertical thickness, substantially as specified.

7. In an extension table, the combination of a central support or pedestal, of arms supported on top of said support or pedestaland projecting from opposite sides thereof, a fixed rail or runner supported by the arms on opposite sides of said support or pedestal, a pair of oppositely-movable table sections, a pair of sliding rails secured to each of said sections and slidably engaging said fixed rail or runner, a downwardly-projecting stop carried by each of said sliding rails adjacent the free ends thereof, each of said arms having a slot or groove for the passage of the stop projecting from the sliding rail which is secured to the table section more remote from such slotted arm, substantially as specified.

8. In an extension table, the combination of a pair of cross arms having divergent outer ends, means for supporting said arms, a pair of fixed parallel rails or runners supported by said arms on opposite sides of the table, a pair of oppositely movable table sections, a pair of sliding rails secured to each of said sections and slidably engaging said fixed rails or runners, substantially as s ecified.

In testimony whereof I afliiv my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

MOSES J. BOWMAN.

itnesses WV. L. MGGARRELL, J. B. HULL 

